Desperate times call for Desperate measures. Apparently.

Updated 6:57 pm, Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Fad diets come and go, but the idea of dieting has been around since the days of Greeks and Romans.

PHOTOS: Popular fad diets through the years ...

Fad diets come and go, but the idea of dieting has been around since the days of Greeks and Romans.

Image 2 of 30 |
1800s: Starvation or Hysteria

During the second half of the 19th century, a form of “Victorian anorexia” was all the rage among the middle class and aristocracy of Western Europe. People would literally starve themselves in order to live up to the Victorian notion of frailty, which was associated with spiritual purity and femininity. less

During the second half of the 19th century, a form of “Victorian anorexia” was all the rage among the middle class and aristocracy of Western Europe. People would literally starve themselves in order to ... more

Image 3 of 30 |
1820: The Vinegar Diet

The anorexic and bulimic poet Lord Byron popularized the vinegar diet in the 1820s. In order to cleanse his body he would drink plenty of vinegar and water daily.

The anorexic and bulimic poet Lord Byron popularized the vinegar diet in the 1820s. In order to cleanse his body he would drink plenty of vinegar and water daily.

Image 4 of 30 |
1925: Cigarette Diet

An advertising campaign began this diet. Created by Albert Lasker for Lucky Strike cigarettes, "Reach for a Lucky" was aimed especially at women, and cited nicotine's alleged weight-loss properties to make it more acceptable for women to smoke their product. less

An advertising campaign began this diet. Created by Albert Lasker for Lucky Strike cigarettes, "Reach for a Lucky" was aimed especially at women, and cited nicotine's alleged weight-loss properties to make it ... more

Photo: Blank Archives, Getty Images

Image 5 of 30 |
Early 1930s: Slimming Soap

Wash away fat in the shower? Though it sounds too good to be true, slimming soaps had women rushing for the bathtub in the 1930s. Despite their grandiose claims, these soaps had no magical fat-blasting contents: They were essentially hand soaps made with potassium chloride and other basic ingredients. less

Wash away fat in the shower? Though it sounds too good to be true, slimming soaps had women rushing for the bathtub in the 1930s. Despite their grandiose claims, these soaps had no magical fat-blasting ... more

Image 6 of 30 |
1930s: The Grapefruit Diet

The popular low-cal plan calls for eating grapefruit with every meal. This diet claims that grapefruit burns fat, but grapefruit can interact with medication, so beware.

The popular low-cal plan calls for eating grapefruit with every meal. This diet claims that grapefruit burns fat, but grapefruit can interact with medication, so beware.

Image 7 of 30 |
1950s: Good vibrations

This vibrating belt (above) that was all the rage back in the 1950s.

This vibrating belt (above) that was all the rage back in the 1950s.

Photo: (c) H F Davis

Image 8 of 30 |
1950s: The Cabbage Soup Diet

This leafy diet promises you can lose 10 to 15 pounds in a week by eating a limited diet including cabbage soup every day.

This leafy diet promises you can lose 10 to 15 pounds in a week by eating a limited diet including cabbage soup every day.

Photo: 2011 AFP

Image 9 of 30 |
1963: Weight Watchers

Is an international company founded by Jean Nidetch, a self-described "overweight housewife obsessed with cookies."

Is an international company founded by Jean Nidetch, a self-described "overweight housewife obsessed with cookies."

Image 10 of 30 |
1970: The Sleeping Beauty Diet

This approach is simply to sleep as much as possible, even if it involves sedation, this diet is rumored to have been tried by Elvis. The emphasis is the more you sleep the less you eat.

This approach is simply to sleep as much as possible, even if it involves sedation, this diet is rumored to have been tried by Elvis. The emphasis is the more you sleep the less you eat.

Image 11 of 30 |
1970s: The Scarsdale Diet

Dr. Herman Tarnower created
the Scarsdale Diet in the '70s. It has a certain ratio
the dieter must adhere to: 43% protein, 22.5% fat, and 34.5%
carbohydrate, and of course few calories (1,000 per day). Ben Kingsley
(with Annette Bening) starred in the HBO movie about Tarnower's life, Mrs. Harris in 2005. Tarnower's convicted killer, a woman named Jean S. Harris, died in 2012. less

Dr. Herman Tarnower created the Scarsdale Diet in the '70s. It has a certain ratio the dieter must adhere to: 43% protein, 22.5% fat, and 34.5% carbohydrate, and of course few calories (1,000 per day). ... more

The Pritkin Diet advocates
low fat foods and lots of carbs. So as much pasta, potatoes and fruits
and veggies as you want, but fat is "forbidden." It's easy to gain
weight by eating too much processed or refined carbs. less

The Pritkin Diet advocates low fat foods and lots of carbs. So as much pasta, potatoes and fruits and veggies as you want, but fat is "forbidden." It's easy to gain weight by eating too much processed or ... more

Photo: Kmit, Fotolia

Image 14 of 30 |
1990s: Parasite Diet

This, perhaps, was the most desperate diet of them all: allow tapeworms into one's digestive system in the fervent hope that they would digest the food and thus, one could eat without fear of gaining weight.

This, perhaps, was the most desperate diet of them all: allow tapeworms into one's digestive system in the fervent hope that they would digest the food and thus, one could eat without fear of gaining weight.

Image 15 of 30 |
1997: Blood Type Diet

This diet urges people to only eat the foods suited for his/her blood type.

This diet urges people to only eat the foods suited for his/her blood type.

Image 16 of 30 |
2000s: The Baby Food Diet

This diet made waves in 2010 when celebrities started taking interest in
eating baby food as a means of losing weight. The diet calls for eating
pureed fruits and vegetables 14 times a day. Experts told The Huffington Post that while the diet is probably not bad for you, pureed food is not appealing enough to comprise a person's sole diet. less

This diet made waves in 2010 when celebrities started taking interest in eating baby food as a means of losing weight. The diet calls for eating pureed fruits and vegetables 14 times a day. Experts told The ... more

Image 17 of 30 |
2000s: The Atkins Diet

Will the new research on carbs be enough to turn the tables on this meat-heavy diet plan?

Dr. Robert Atkins' low-carb diet is popular among dieters, but not necessarily among doctors, ABC News reports.
When the Atkins craze hit, food manufacturers rushed to created
low-carb products for the followers. Studies released in 2012 showed
early success among Atkins dieters compared to other dieters, but the
two groups were the same after one year. Scientists told ABC that any
diet that cuts out major food groups would not remain palatable or
appropriate in the long-term. less

Will the new research on carbs be enough to turn the tables on this meat-heavy diet plan?

Dr. Robert Atkins' low-carb diet is popular among dieters, but not necessarily among doctors, ABC News reports. When ... more

Photo: AP

Image 18 of 30 |
2000s: The Cotton Ball Diet

Some people eat them dry, while others soak them in gelatin. Because they’re so filling, they’re said to satiate you so you won’t want to eat fattening foods. While cotton balls are high in fiber, unfortunately it’s not the kind of fiber humans need. less

Some people eat them dry, while others soak them in gelatin. Because they’re so filling, they’re said to satiate you so you won’t want to eat fattening foods. While cotton balls are high in fiber, ... more

Image 19 of 30 |
2000s: The Cookie Diet

The cookie diet is based on the idea
that when dieters eat what they're craving, they're more likely to
stick with it. But these aren't normal cookies. According to Dr. Sanford
Siegal's website, you're supposed to eat nine of them throughout the
day, plus a 500-700 calorie meal. less

The cookie diet is based on the idea that when dieters eat what they're craving, they're more likely to stick with it. But these aren't normal cookies. According to Dr. Sanford Siegal's website, you're ... more

Image 20 of 30 |
2004: Diet drugs ban

The FDA bans the sale of diet drugs and supplements containing ephedra after it's linked to heart attacks.

The FDA bans the sale of diet drugs and supplements containing ephedra after it's linked to heart attacks.

Image 21 of 30 |
1980s-2000s: Breatharian Diet

One diet requires you give up everything. That’s right—you’re supposed to subsist on air alone. Breatharians believe that when humans find the purest sense of harmony with the world, they no longer require food, water or sleep. less

One diet requires you give up everything. That’s right—you’re supposed to subsist on air alone. Breatharians believe that when humans find the purest sense of harmony with the world, they no longer ... more

Photo: (c) Jorg Greuel

Image 22 of 30 |
2010s: The Paleo Diet

Touted by
its creator as "the world's healthiest," this diet is centered on eating
foods that our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate during the Stone Age.
"Grass-produced meats, fish, fresh fruits and non-starchy vegetables are
the key." Dr. Loren Cordain, Ph.D., states on his website. But critics like Rob Dunn of Scientific American say Cordain's all wrong. less

Touted by
its creator as "the world's healthiest," this diet is centered on eating
foods that our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate during the Stone Age.
"Grass-produced meats, fish, fresh fruits and ... more

Christian congregations across
the country are implementing a faith-based diet plan, ‘The Daniel
Plan,’ which was created by megachurch pastor Rick Warren and modeled
after the diet of young Hebrew men in the Book of Daniel. Read more about the diet craze at houstonchronicle.com.

Christian congregations across
the country are implementing a faith-based diet plan, ‘The Daniel
Plan,’ which was created by megachurch pastor Rick Warren and modeled
after the diet of young Hebrew ... more

Photo: Saddleback Church

Image 26 of 30 |
2010s: The Hollywood Miracle Diet

The Hollywood 48 hour miracle diet claims that you will lose 10 pounds in 48 hours. It's basically a juice fast
and some say the weight loss is due to loss of water and toxins rather
than fat. Livestrong.org warns that following the diet could result in hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. less

The Hollywood 48 hour miracle diet claims that you will lose 10 pounds in 48 hours. It's basically a juice fast and some say the weight loss is due to loss of water and toxins rather than fat. ... more

Photo: Valentyn Volkov

Image 27 of 30 |
2010s: Somerizing

Suzanne Somers' "Eat Great, Lose Weight" diet suggests that you can enjoy the foods you love by "Somerizing," or eating them in certain combinations.

Suzanne Somers' "Eat Great, Lose Weight" diet suggests that you can enjoy the foods you love by "Somerizing," or eating them in certain combinations.

Photo: AP

Image 28 of 30 |
2010s: The South Beach Diet

This diet starts with two weeks of heavy food restrictions, especially
on carbohydrates such as bread, corn, pasta, fruit and rice, according to WebMD.
The diet bans unhealthy fats but promotes healthy fats, and dieters
eventually return to eating normal foods in smaller portions. less

This diet starts with two weeks of heavy food restrictions, especially on carbohydrates such as bread, corn, pasta, fruit and rice, according to WebMD. The diet bans unhealthy fats but promotes healthy ... more

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff

Image 29 of 30 |
2010s: The Beverly Hills Diet

The Beverly Hills Diet plan consists of 8 oz. of prunes for breakfast,
unlimited strawberries for lunch, a baked potato for dinner. It's very
low in calories and not recommended.

The Beverly Hills Diet plan consists of 8 oz. of prunes for breakfast,
unlimited strawberries for lunch, a baked potato for dinner. It's very
low in calories and not recommended.

Photo: Valery Sibrikov

Image 30 of 30

15 ridiculous diet fads people have tried through the years

1 / 30

Back to Gallery

Dr. Mehmet Oz has certainly seen better days.

The doc was grilled on Capitol Hill about the promotion of weight loss products on his program, "The Dr. Oz Show." The Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance is looking at whether or not the doctor backed products that don't have scientific backing, such as green coffee beans.

"I get that you do a lot of good on your show," Chairman Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., told Oz. "I don't get why you need to say this stuff because you know it's not true."

Are these claims bogus, or are they legit ways to lose weight? That decision is in the government's hands now. Nonetheless, Dr. Oz's time in the spotlight has got us thinking of ridiculous fad diets we've seen throughout the years. From eating baby food to literally washing away fat, check out the gallery above to see which 15 diets people actually believed would work.